Who exactly planted the bomb under Frank Rosenthal's car?

[Momo]

And was it an ordered hit?

[Ivan]

And was it an ordered hit?

Unclear who the actual bomb-placer was, but the FBI is almost certain that the bombing was ordered by Frank Balistrieri.

[Adam]

And was it an ordered hit?

Not verified but I thought general belief was Ron De'Angelis made the bomb. I believe that's what Roemer thought.

[Snakes]

Always had the impression it was unsanctioned by Spilotro

[Luca]

Did Frank Balisteri have enough pull to order a bombing like that? I mean Rosenthal was a major player in the outfit. Surely he would have had to get permission from the outfit. I could see Spilatro pulling a stunt like that though. This is one the mafia mysteries we will never know the answer to.

[Tonyd621]

Let's not kid ourselves here it was Johnny Alite. Frank Sheeran contracted it out to him

[furiofromnaples]

https://themobmuseum.org/blog/who-bombe ... thals-car/

Several theories have surfaced regarding who tried to kill Rosenthal.

1) The most prominent is that it was the work of mobster Anthony “Tough Tony” Spilotro, who, like Frank Rosenthal, was an underworld transplant from Chicago. Spilotro also was having an affair with Lefty’s wife, Geri.


2) Another theory pins the crime on the outlaw bikers Geri Rosenthal knew in Southern California during a downward spiral that resulted in her apparent drug overdose death there at age 46 a month after the car bombing. In the movie, Sharon Stone plays the Geri Rosenthal character, while Joe Pesci portrays the character based on Spilotro. Spilotro and his brother, Michael, were beaten to death in 1986 and buried in an Indiana cornfield.

3) Another suspect in the car bombing is former Milwaukee crime boss Frank “Mad Bomber” Balistrieri. A History Channel publication released in 2020 titled The American Mafia states that “most evidence” points to Balistrieri. According to the publication, Balistrieri blamed Rosenthal for the Chicago Outfit’s demand that he “surrender 25 percent of the take from his skimming operation.”

4) Some who were around in those days view it differently, believing Kansas City mobsters were responsible for the bombing. Frank Cullotta, a Chicagoan who reconnected with childhood pal Spilotro in Las Vegas in the 1970s, becoming his Mob lieutenant in town, said in a recent telephone interview that the Kansas City Mafia suspected Rosenthal of being a government informant and therefore wanted to take him down.

Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jane Ann Morrison later confirmed through her law enforcement sources what some mobsters sensed, that Rosenthal had been a Top Echelon federal informant. Morrison even discovered that Geri Rosenthal also talked to the FBI.

Frank Rosenthal’s involvement as an informant went back a long time, according to what Pileggi said over the telephone recently from his Manhattan apartment. The screenwriter said Frank Rosenthal likely had been a Top Echelon informant as far back as his Chicago years, when he was a prominent oddsmaker. When the Mob finally learns that about someone, arrangements are made to silence the person.

[Ivan]

3) Another suspect in the car bombing is former Milwaukee crime boss Frank “Mad Bomber” Balistrieri. A History Channel publication released in 2020 titled The American Mafia states that “most evidence” points to Balistrieri. According to the publication, Balistrieri blamed Rosenthal for the Chicago Outfit’s demand that he “surrender 25 percent of the take from his skimming operation.”

There was a recording made of Balistrieri tell I think his sons that they would receive "satisfaction" very soon WRT to Rosenthal right before the bombing happened, and Balistrieri was notorious for bombing his enemies. Balistrieri is infamous for that one "He insulted me, right to his face, and now they can't find his skin!" comment about a bombing victim.

The FBI thinks he did it and I agree with them, though I'm sure he had to clear it with the Outfit, KC, etc. first too.

[furiofromnaples]

The Outfit was in the West coast what the 5 families was in the east coast,they had the biggest casinos so the other families was jealous.
But seem strange that the Outfit would let it golden jew be whacked for an insult.

[SonnyBlackstein]

Balistieri turned out to be an informant didn't he?

[Ivan]

The Outfit was in the West coast what the 5 families was in the east coast,they had the biggest casinos so the other families was jealous.
But seem strange that the Outfit would let it golden jew be whacked for an insult.

That comment about the guy who insulted Balistrieri wasn't about Rosenthal, that was Balistrieri talking about someone else he blew up.

[Patrickgold]

Balistieri turned out to be an informant didn't he?

Balistieri was an informant? First time hearing this. Where did you get this info?

[SonnyBlackstein]

Balistieri was an informant? First time hearing this. Where did you get this info?

I may be wrong. I understood he spke to the FBI after his conviction for a deal for his sons, offered info.
I thought it was discussed here, but I cant find a reference.

[cavita]

The Outfit was in the West coast what the 5 families was in the east coast,they had the biggest casinos so the other families was jealous.
But seem strange that the Outfit would let it golden jew be whacked for an insult.

That comment about the guy who insulted Balistrieri wasn't about Rosenthal, that was Balistrieri talking about someone else he blew up.

Augie Palmisano

[JerryB]

Balistieri was an informant? First time hearing this. Where did you get this info?

I may be wrong. I understood he spke to the FBI after his conviction for a deal for his sons, offered info.
I thought it was discussed here, but I cant find a reference.

Franky Bal copped out and pled guilty as part of a deal to give Joe and John (his sons) lighter sentences. Balistrieri was not a rat.